Continuous rail-joint.



R. G. MGOLURB- CONTINUOUS RAIL JOINT..

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 24, 1907.

PIG-.6.

1-" I wzrnzssss. 7 mvnu'ron.

. san tum .AIT'Y PATENTED APR. 14, 1908.

ROBERT o. MCGLURE, or LETHBRIDGE, ALBERTA, CANADA.

CONTINUOUS RAILJ'OINT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

'Patented April 14, 1908.

Application filed June 24, 1907. Serial No. 380,616.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ROBERT C. MoCLURR, a resident of Lethbridge, in the Province of Alberta, Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Continuous Rail-Joints, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in rail joints and the objects of my invention are to provide a simple form of continuous rail joint which will be placed at intervals along the track, and which will permit longi tudinal expansion or contraction of the rails without interfering with the continuity of the tread surface, and it consists essentially of two extension members adapted tobe connected to the ends of adjacent rails, one of the connecting members having a tongue integral with the end thereof adapted to extend into a slot in the end of the other, the width of the tongue bein less than the tread and the adjacent vertica and inner edges of each member being rounded, and a chair suporting the extension members with freedom to slide longitudinally, all as hereinafter more fully set forth and described in the accompanying specification and drawings.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows a perspective view of my improved rail joint. Fig. 2 shows a side view of the same connected in position. Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of one of the extension members. Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of the other extension member. Fig. 5 shows a sectional view along the line 22, Fig. 2. Fig. 6 shows a sectional view along the line 33, Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view.

In the drawings, like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each figure.

Referring to the drawings, a and b are the two extension members adapted to be connected to the ends of adjacent rails c and d, by fish-plate joints 6 and f, or other suitable connecting means.

The connectmg members are substantiallyin the shape of portions of rails having the webs at their inner extremities i and thick ened, as shown and the inner vertical edges 9 and h rounded as shown. The rounding of the vertical edges prevents chipping and breaking of the extension members which contact with the flan es of the train wheels, while the thickener web gives greater strength at the point required. One of the members has integrally formed with the end thereof, an outwardly protruding tongue 76,

the upper surface Z of which is continuous with the upper tread surface of the extension member and the width less'than the width of the tread surface on the top. This tongue is adapted to extend into a suitably shaped slot m formed on the opposite extension member, thus forming between the two, a tongue and groove oint.

Both of the extension members are held with freedom to slide longitudinally in a chair n which is spiked or otherwise secured to the ties 0.

In practice, the rail joints are inserted in the tracks at intervals of from one-quarter of a mile to two miles, depending on the nature of the track and the country in which it is laid. I The tongue Z being less in width than the tread, and having the upper surface thereof on a level therewith, prevents the expansion and contraction from breaking the continu ity of the rail, as the wheel in passing over the joint will rest partly on one extension member and partly on'the other, thus distributing the weight and forming a desirably noiseless and smooth joint.

The joint may also be used to save the cutting ofrails where the tracks are traveling on a grade in one direction or another. The joint could be inserted in these rails at the bottom or top of the grade and reversed according as the track travels in one direction or the other.

It will thus be seen that I have devised a simple and efficient form of continuous rail joint, which when in use, will prevent the buckling of rails and bulging at curves, as well as the breaking of rails from contraction.

While the invention has been described herein with great particularity of detail, it will be readily understood that in carrying out the construction of the same, changes may be made in the details thereof, without materially departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim as my invention is 1. In a rail joint, the combination with the two rails, of short extension members attached to the-end of each, a tongue formed on the end ofone of the extension members having the top surface thereof narrower in width than the tread, and continuous with the top of the extension member, the other extension member being provided with a slot into which the tongue fits and forms a tongue and groove joint, and a chair supporting both extension members with free- I dom to slide longitudinally, as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a rail joint, the combination with the two rails, of short extension members attached to the end of each, a tongue integral with the end of one extension member, the top face of which is narrower than the tread and continuous with the upper surface of the extension member, the opposite member having a slot cut therein into which the tongue is adapted to fit, and a chair supporting the extension members with freedom to slide longitudinally, as and for the purpose s ecified.

3. n a rail joint, the combination with the two rails, of short extension members attached to each, having rounded inner va tical edges and webs thickened towards their extremities, a' tongue formed integral with the end of one extension member, having the top surface narrower than the tread, and continuous with the upper surface of the extension member, the opposite extension member having a slot cut therein into which the tongue is adapted to fit, and a chair supporting both the extension members with freedom to slide longitudinally. g Signed at Lethbridge, in the Province of Alberta, this 5th day of June, 1907.

' R. C. MOCLURE. Witnesses:

C. B. BOWMAN, M. SIMMONS. 

